Anticipation: “I’m in an awful place right now but, with a little help from my friends, I’m gonna get out the other side.” My life is shit. I hate everything and everyone. But there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. I’m gonna plan for the future and get out the hole. (though I should note that Josh is mostly a mess of very unhealthy defence mechanisms in that episode – but that’s what makes an Emmy-winning performance)

Suppression: “I am going to put off dealing with this until it’s no longer Thursday Not to be confused with repression, this defence mechanism involves putting off an emotional problem until it’s a more appropriate time to deal with it. Your boyfriend just dumped you, but it’s the Thai boxing world championship or you’re judging an international cupcake competition. You will deal with that loser another time – right now, let’s get to work!

Sublimation: “I am stressed at work – so I will dance in my office and drink cocktails.” When your boss shouts at you or your brother steals your car, you decide to work off your frustration and anger by taking up Thai boxing or baking cupcakes. This turns the unacceptable impulse of wanting to smash someone’s face in or curl up in a ball and cry, and turns it into something productive.

Sherlock =/= psychopath/sociopath/any such thing The difference between a psychopath and a sociopath? There isn’t really a distinction. Sociopathy and psychopathy are sometimes used interchangeably. Sherlock may be referring to one of Hare’s distinctions that psychopathy is amoral and sociopathy is merely having right/wrong views that differ from the norm. He may also have fixated on meanness, using his lack of personal relationships as evidence.

Crime fiction is entertainment. Writers’ primary goal is to entertain. But what is the impact of the written word on the most vulnerable people in society? Does crime fiction contribute to mental health stigma?

Imagine, for a moment, that you woke up this morning and thought the NSA were spying on you – not a difficult leap. Your phone has been bugged, your laptop monitored, and the car parked across the street has two of their spies. You confide in your best friend, but instead of helping you escape, he takes you to a hospital.

Types of stalker: > Rejected – pursue their victim after a failed relationship, seeking reunion or revenge > Resentful – seeking to intimidate and distress the victim > Intimacy seeker – desire a loving relationship with the victim > Incompetent suitor – attracted to victim and want a relationship, but have poor social skills > Predatory – spy on a victim in order to plan an attack, often sexual.

After the revelation that Robin Williams suffered with bipolar affective disorder, a rush of articles about creatives and mental health problems sprung up all over the shop. Last week – not for the first time – a young man sat in an assessment with me and said he didn’t want medication to take away his “creativity”. So, now seemed like a good time to talk about what bipolar affective disorder is and what it isn’t, and how Hollywood and the media often get it wrong.

The madhouse. Loony bin. Asylum. Psychiatric wards are called many things, but what is it really like inside one? Freudian Script continues to give writers an up-close-and-personal view of mental health services in the UK and this week’s post concentrates on the inside of mental health unit.